Wraparound carrier



A ril 2, 1968 A. J. WEISS WRAPAROUND CARRIER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 29, 1966 Jim April 2, 1968 A. J. WEISS 3,375,968

WRAPAROUND CARRIER Filed Aug. 29, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ARTHUR J. WEISS ATTORNEYS 3,375,968 WRAPAROUND CARRIER Arthur J. Weiss, Bergenfield, N.J., assignor to Continental (Tan Company, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Aug. 29, 1966, Ser. No. 575,576 7 Claims. (Cl. 22940) This invention relates to a novel carrier of the wraparound type and is particularly directed to a carrier having novel means for maintaining articles packaged therein in spaced relationship, and means for interlockingly securing each of the articles in the carrier.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a novel carrier which is of a generally tubular configuration and includes a top, a pair of side and a pair of terminal closure panels, the top panel being defined in part by a pair of fold lines, a plurality of openings in the top panel, the openings being positioned in transverse and longitudinal alignment, and a pair of fold lines being defined in part by severance lines which are in transverse alignment between longitudinally spaced ones of the neck-receiving openings whereby the discontinuous pair of fold lines define means for maintaining articles interlocked in the carrier.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel carrier of the type heretofore described wherein the terminal closure panels are provided with cooperative interlocking means, the interlocking means including a plurality of openings in one of the closure panels, a plurality of locking tabs carried by the other of the closure panels and being aligned for entry into the openings, each of the openings being defined by first and second cut lines, each first out line being generally U-shaped in configuration and opening toward the terminal edge of the one closure panel, each of the second cut lines being generally V-shaped and opening away from the terminal edge, and each U-shaped cut line merging with an associated one of the V-shaped cut lines at points inwardly of the terminal ends of the latter cut lines.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel carrier of the type heretofore described, wherein the other closure panel includes a plurality of terminal flaps, each of the flaps being defined in part by a fold line position inwardly of the terminal edge of the other closure panel and a cut line disposed generally normal to the last-mentioned fold line, and each locking tab being joined to an associated one of the flaps.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel carrier of the type heretofore described where each locking tab is of a generally rhomboidal configuration having a pair of surfaces converging in a direction away from the terminal edge of the other closure panel, each tab being joined to an associated one of the flaps by a reduced neck portion, and the width of each neck portion being generally equal to the distance between terminal ends of the first cut line.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel carrier of the type heretofore described including another tab associated with each locking tab, and each of the other tabs projecting in a direction opposite the direction of projection of the locking tabs.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top perspective view of a novel blank constructed in accordance with this invention, and illustrates a plurality of transverse full lines dividing the blank into a plurality of top. side and closure panels.

United States Patent 3,375,968 Patented Apr. 2, 1968 FIGURE 2 is a top perspective view of a carrier formed from the blank of FIGURE 1, and illustrates a plurality of articles interlockingly housed in the carrier.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary slightly enlarged sectional view taken generally along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2, and illustrates means for both separating transversely adjacent ones of the articles and maintaining the terminal closure panels in spaced relationship.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken generally along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3, and illustrates means for maintaining transverse pairs of the articles in interlocking relationship in the carrier.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 4-, and illustrates one of the locking tabs in the locked position thereof.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary top plan view of another blank of this invention, and illustrates each of a plurality of latching tabs joined to a closure panel by a hinged flap.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the blank of FIGURE 6, and illustrates the manner in which the hinged flaps are hinged during the insertion of the locking tabs through an opening of another of the closure panels of the blank.

FIGURE 8 is a perspective View of the blank of FIG- URE 7, and illustrates one of the latching tabs prior to and after being inserted through one of the openings of any one of the closure panels.

Referring first to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, a novel blank constructed in accordance with this invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 10 and includes a generally rectangular sheet material member 11; The sheet material member 11 is defined by .a pair of spaced, parallel longitudinal edges 12, 13, a transverse edge 14 and an opposite generally irregular transverse edge 15.

A plurality of discontinuous transverse fold lines 16 through 19 cooperate with the edges 12 through to set off a plurality of generally rectangular outer closure, first side, top, second side and inner closure panels, 21

through 25, respectively. Each of the discontinuous foldlines 16 is defined by severance or cut lines 26 through 29 and short fold lines 30 through 32 therebetween. It should be particularly noted that the cut lines 26 through 29 of each of the discontinuous transverse fold lines 16 through 19 are in longitudinal alignment as are the fold lines 30 through 32 of each of the discontinuous fold lines 16 through 19.

The top panel 23 is provided with a plurality of identical circular neck-receiving openings 34. There are six such neck-receiving openings 34 illustrated in the drawings, but it is to be understood that more or less than this number may be formed in the top panel 23 in accordance with this invention. The neck-receiving openings 34 are adapted to receive necks N (FIGURE 3) of containers C such as glass, plastic or metallic bottles or similar articles. The neck-receiving openings 34 are both longitudinally and transversely aligned, and a plane passing through the center lines of transversely adjacent pairs of the neck-receiving openings 34 bisect the short fold lines 30 through 32 of each of the discontinuous fold lines 16 through 18 for a purpose which will be more apparent hereinafter.

The top panel 23 is also provided with a removable tear strip 35 defined by a pair of discontinuous generally parallel cut lines 36, 37. The tear strip 35 is disposed substantially along a longitudinal center line of the top panel 23, and is adapted to be removed to facilitate the removal of articles from a carrier which is formed by setting-up the blank 10, as will be more apparent hereafter.

The carrier is maintained in the generally tubular configuration thereof as illustrated in FIGURE 2 of the drawings by cooperative latching means 42, 43 forming respective portions of the closure panels 21, 25.

The latching means 42 of the outer closure panel 21 are a plurality of identical generally rhomboidal-shaped latching tabs 44 having reduced neck portions 45 which are in turn each provided with a transverse fold line 46. The transverse fold line 46 joins each latching tab 44 with an associated identical flap 47. Each flap 47 is defined by portions of the irregular transverse edge 15, an associated discontinuous fold line 48 which is defined by alternating fold line portions 50 and out line portions 51, and a longitudinal slot 52. There are three latching tabs 44 illustrated in FIGURE 1 of the drawings, and each latching tab is in longitudinal alignment with an associated one of the latching means 43.

Each of the latching means 43 of the inner closure panel 25 is defined by a first generally U-shaped cut line 53 directed toward but terminating short of the transverse edge 14. Each of the latching means 43 also includes a generally shallow V-shaped cut line 54 which opens away from the transverse edge 14. Portions of the cut lines 53, 54 define openings 55 into which associated ones of the latching tabs 44 are adapted to pass through, as will be more apparent hereinafter.

The blank 10 is formed into the carrier 40 by positioning the former in overlying relationship to a plurality of aligned containers C. The containers C include generally octagonal-shaped bodies B which include opposite side Walls S1, S2 (FIGURE 4). The side walls S1, S2 of each container C merge with a generally annular top wall T at respective shoulders S3, S4 (FIGURES 2 and 3).

After the necks N have been seated in the neck-receiving openings 34 the blank 10 is folded along the discontinuous fold lines 16 to 19 until the outer closure panel 21 is brought into underlying relationship to the inner closure panel 25. At this point the flaps 47 are folded along the associated fold lines 48 in a manner similar to that illustrated in FIGURE 7 of the drawings. The folding of the flaps 47 facilitates the insertion of the latching tabs 44 through the openings 55 of the latching means 43 to the position best illustrated in FIGURES 2 through 4 of the drawings. The latching tabs 44 not only cooperate with the openings 55 to maintain the carrier 40 assembled in the generally tubular configuration thereof, but it should be particularly noted that each of the latching tabs 44 additionally functions as a separator to maintain lower end portions of adjacent pairs of the artiv cles C in non-contacting spaced relationship.

During the wrapping of the blank 11 about the articles C and the forceful insertion of the latching tabs 44 between the lower end portions thereof, the shoulders S3, each side wall S1 and a lower shoulder corresponding to the shoulders S3 are forcefully urged into interlocking relationship with each of the fold line portions 30 through 32 of the discontinuous fold lines 16 through 19, as best illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 4 of the drawings. Each fold line portion 30 through 32 of the discontinous fold lines 16 through 19 thereby defines an interlock for immovably maintaining each of the articles C within the carrier 40.

Another novel blank constructed in accordance with this invention is partially illustrated in FIGURE 6 of the drawings, and is generally designated by the reference numeral 60. The blank is identical to the blank 10 of FIGURE 1 except for different latching means 61 carried by an outer closure panel 62. The latching means 61 are each defined by a rhomboidal-shaped latching tab 63 joined by an associated flap 64 by a relatively narrow pair of neck portions (unnumbered) across which are aligned short fold lines 65, 66. The flaps 64 are each in turn joined to the outer closure panel 62 by a discontinuous fold line 67 and are defined in part by a longitudinal slot or cut 68 terminating adjacent the discontinuous fold line 67. Each of the neck portions are provided with a generally inverted C-shaped severance line 70 defining a tab 71 projecting in a direction opposite to the direction of projection of each of the latching tabs 63.

The blank 60 is formed into a wraparound type carrier (not shown) having a plurality of articles housed therein in much the same manner as that heretofore described relative to the formation of the blank 10 into the carrier 40. However, each of the latching tabs 63 is inserted through an associated opening 75 a rod, roller or similar means are brought into contact with each of the tabs 71 to forcefully engage and urge the latching tabs 63 between transversely adjacent pairs of the articles (not shown). The hinge or foldable construction between each of the flaps 64 and the outer closure panel 62 along the fold line 67 assist in the insertion of the latching tabs 63 into the openings 65 in the manner diagrammatically illustrated in FIGURE 7 of the drawings. While the machine for inserting the latching tabs 63 into the openings 75 is not illustrated, the same is provided with means which folds the flap 64 along the associated fold line 67 from a generally flat plane toward a vertical plane (FIG- URE 7) while at the same time each of the locking tabs 63 are folded along the fold line 65, 66 in a direction pointing toward the openings 75. During the insertion of the tabs 63 into the openings 75 the flaps 64 are again brought to a planar horizontal position at about a time the noted roller, rail, guide bar or similar means act against the tabs 71 to insert the latching tabs 63 between the articles.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that novel and advantageous provision has been made for carrying out the desired end. However, attention is directed to the fact that other variations may be made in the example wraparound carrier and blank disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A blank of the type adapted to be formed into a generally tubular carrier comprising a generally planar sheet material member, a plurality of fold lines dividing said member into side, top, first and second terminal closure panels, a plurality of openings in one of said closure panels, a plurality of locking tabs carrier by the other of said closure panels and being alignable for entry into said openings, each of said openings being defined by first and second cut lines, each first out line being generally U-shaped in configuration and opening toward a terminal edge of said one closure panel, each of said second cut lines being generally V-shaped and opening away from said terminal edge, and each U-shaped out line merging with an associated one of the V-shaped cut lines at points inwardly of the terminal ends of the latter cut lines.

2. The blank as defined in claim 1 wherein said other closure panel includes a plurality of terminal flaps, each of said flaps being defined in part by a fold line positioned inwardly of a terminal edge of said other closure panel and a cut-line disposed generally normal to said last-mentioned fold line, and each locking tab being joined to an associated one of the flaps.

3. The blank as defined in claim 2 wherein each looking tab is of a generally rhomboidal configuration having a pair of surfaces converging in a direction away from the terminal edge of said other closure panel, each tabbeing joined to an associated one of the flaps by a reduced neck portion, and the width of each neck portion being generally equal to the distance between terminal ends of the first cut lines.

4. The blank as defined in claim 2 wherein each looking tab includes another tab projecting in a direction Opposite to the direction of projection of the locking tabs.

5. The blank as defined in claim 3 including another tab associated with each locking tab, and the another tabs each projecting in a direction opposite to the direction of projection of the locking tabs.

6. A blank of the type adapted to be formed into a generally tubular carrier comprising a generally planar sheet material member, a plurality of fold lines dividing said member into side, top, first and second terminal closure panels, a plurality of neck-receiving openings in said top panel, said openings being disposed in transversely and longitudinally aligned groups between a pair of fold lines defining said top panel, a plurality of severance lines disposed along each of said pair of fold lines, and said severance lines being in transversely aligned relationship between longitudinally spaced pairs of said neck-receiving opening.

7. The blank as defined in claim 6 wherein said top panel includes a tear strip disposed transversely thereof between said neck-receiving openings.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,166,190 1/1965 Conrades 20665 3,167,214 1/1965 Mahon 229-4O 3,169,691 2/1965 Wood 206-65 10 3,278,075 10/1966 Weiss 229-40 JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner. ROBERT PESHOCK, Examiner. 

1. A BLANK OF THE TYPE ADAPTED TO BE FORMED INTO A GENERALLY TUBULAR CARRIER COMPRISING A GENERALLY PLANAR SHEET MATERIAL MEMBER, A PLURALITY OF FOLD LINES DIVIDING SAID MEMBER INTO SIDE, TOP, FIRST AND SECOND TERMINAL CLOSURE PANELS, A PLURALITY OF OPENINGS IN ONE OF SAID CLOSURE PANELS, A PLURALITY OF LOCKING TABS CARRIER BY THE OTHER OF SAID CLOSURE PANELS AND BEING ALIGNABLE FOR ENTRY INTO SAID OPENINGS, EACH OF SAID OPENINGS BEING DEFINED BY FIRST AND SECOND CUT LINES, EACH FIRST CUT LINE BEING GENERALLY U-SHAPED IN CONFIGURATION AND OPENING TOWARD A TERMINAL EDGE OF SAID ONE CLOSURE PANEL, EACH OF SAID SECOND CUT LINES BEING GENERALLY V-SHAPED AND OPENING AWAY FROM SAID TERMINAL EDGE, AND EACH U-SHAPED CUT LINE MERGING WITH AN ASSOCIATED ONE OF THE V-SHAPED CUT LINES AT POINTS INWARDLY OF THE TERMINAL ENDS OF THE LATTER CUT LINES. 